Interesting read over at Ars Technica about the Air Forceentering into exclusive contracts to launch objects into orbit without being open to public bids.

Musk wants the Air Force’s exclusive contract with the defense contractors to be rescinded, and he wants the formal certification of SpaceX, as well as the establishment of a competitive bidding process for launch contracts.

With the commercialization of space flight, as well as the subsequent lowering of costs as a result, why not open up these contracts to public bidding? Seems like it’s just a sweetheart deal for longtime defense contractors Boeing and Lockheed.